Reverend Guy Hewitt, it is official!

It is official, the Reverend Guy Hewitt was nominated by the DLP St. John branch to enable his contest for the post of President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP). After the unprecedented defeat in 2018 a view emerged that the DLP must be prepared to give itself a ‘bush bath’ and to present fresh faces to the electorate in coming elections. In recent weeks the incarceration of former DLP minister Donville Inniss and utterances of former Minister Denis Lowe of CAHILL fame have caused many to wonder if the DLP has what it takes to take fresh guard.

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth”. John 17: 17

To be honest Reverend Guy Hewitt has equipped himself very well since his declaration to oust Verla De Peiza from the position of president of the DLP. In a recent hard talk interview with veteran journalist David Ellis he surprised many with his performance. It is ironic the main arguments from his detractors is that he has not been observing PROCESS. Where was he in the last 3 years. When the party need help. Why did he change his mind a week after saying he was not interest. Why has he been working outside the country. Has he been paying his dues to be a card carrying member of the DLP. Why did he bail from delivering the Errol Barrow Memorial lecture etc etc etc.

To hell with process. Tell it to the Auditor General.

It is obvious to outsiders – DLP members members regard the public offering a perspective on the interesting contest developing between Reverend Guy and incumbent Verla De Peiza as outsiders – the establishment of the DLP is behind Verla De Peiza. Without doing a serious focus group analysis, it is evident to outsiders the bold challenge by Guy is good for the DLP and the country. Win lose or draw, onlookers want to see fresh political entrants who are inspired to challenge the old way of doing things. There is a view the best way for anyone seeking to create change, is to lead the change from within. Those who have been critical of the duopoly and the ensconced culture that has produced two political parties bereft of ideas in 2021- if we are to judge from the current state of the social and economic landscape in recent years- must be smiling a little,

The usual talking heads will say Reverend Guy Hewitt is a political neophyte who has not paid his dues to be deserving of serious consideration for party leadership. On the other side of the debate, others will counter by suggesting leaders emerge in times of crisis and who will deny that the DLP is in crisis at this time? They will say the timing is wrong for the DLP to be engaged in an internal battle for leadership with a maximum of two years to the general election. Those pushing back will suggest the DLP does not have a realistic chance of winning the next general election, it is a better strategy to support purge-letting events and to excoriate political cancers once and for all. To date the DLP has not released a full slate of candidates to suggest to onlookers it is battle ready for 2023. It has been taking too long for the only credible opposition party to show how agile is has been since 2018 to resurrect the party. The sloth management style of former leader Fruendel Stuart appears to be that of Verla De Peiza.

For the ‘outsiders’ we want the best man or woman to win because Barbadians everywhere are vested in the outcome. We are not outsiders. The DLP is the government in waiting, especially with no credible third party to offer serious contest. Is the Reverend Guy Hewitt the man to fuse life into the DLP, a political party that has been unable to offer fresh ideas and programs to the electorate post 2018?

Time will tell!

56 thoughts on “Reverend Guy Hewitt, it is official!


  1. Will Guy invaginate the DLP
    Is a Bush bath washing a fanny before going out for sex

    CHARANPAL – Thapia Na Jai
    (I share this piece of art as a journey from pain and loss to liberation and resolve… and as an offering of love and hope to anyone out there that is coping with loss.)

    With You Now by Charanpal


  2. So, was our own Lorenzo correct when he referred to Verla as the “night watchman?”

    The Guy has a good campaign strategy.

    He has a weekly guest column in the Nation, in which, similar to Ezra Alleyne, he uses ‘political spin’ to discuss issues. His article on the Auditor General’s report is a perfect example……… and I’ve noticed he’s been attracting the media’s attention.

    This is something Verla or those who are advising her should have thought about.


  3. So what am I see here ?
    The same blp operatives who said he had nothing worthwhile to offer beginning to sing Hewitt praises


  4. #steuspe

    Lowe after DLP general secretary again

    by BARRY ALLEYNE
    barryalleyne@nationnews.com
    DR DENIS LOWE is eyeing higher office in the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).
    The former Member of Parliament is putting his hat in the ring to become the next general secretary. Former senator Damien Griffith is acting in that role.
    Lowe, the former MP for Christ Church East, told the DAILY NATION he believed the general secretary to be the second most important position in the party, second only to the presidency, now held by Verla De Peiza.
    “I have offered myself for the office of general secretary in the upcoming annual conference. I have quietly caucused a number of persons and there seems to be a general view I would be suitable to run for the office,” he said. He noted the decision to run was not a reflection of a negative view of Griffith, who has acted in the position since late last year, replacing Kemar Stuart, who was elected as general secretary last August.
    “There is a general observation now that the general secretary is inexperienced . . . . There is also a view that since he is now in elective politics for the first time, it would be a good idea for him to focus on getting his constituency won and mobilising his people,” added Lowe, who mounted an unsuccessful challenge for the post of general secretary last year.
    Lowe said his longtime membership in the party, and having run what he considered one of the most successful constituencies in the DLP’s history, put him in good stead to be the next general secretary.
    “I would bring to the position a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge and an understanding of how the office of general secretary works.
    “The office is really the second most important, second only to the president. What will cause our party to rise now is an understanding of how to re-energise and remobilise the branches.”
    He said every branch had to be fully functional for the Dems to have the “slightest chance” at winning the Government.
    “The general secretary’s task is to work with the president of the party to provide the kind of support needed to mobilise the country around a strategic political agenda that is driven by the branches,” he added.
    Lowe said De Peiza had been informed of his intention to run for the office. The former minister said he would not comment on the work already done by Griffith, and his chances would depend solely on what party members thought.
    “If the rank and file believe I’m competent to run as general secretary at this time, I will accept. If they choose Mr Griffith, I will show him the respect I always have since he joined the party,” Lowe said.
    The DLP’s annual general conference is held in August.

    Source: Nation


  5. Guys must know that those whispering in his ears mat not have his best interest or that of the party at heart.

    When the bell for election tolls he may discover that some of the voices he heard were now silent or singing in the other choir.

    I wish Barbados well I wish him well. I wish Verla well.


  6. Guy must know that those whispering in his ears may not have his best interest or that of the party at heart.


  7. In MY opinion Verla was an attempt to have a woman leader to oppose another woman leader. Big mistake.

    Time for Verla to step down and let a a man oppose a woeman.


  8. Bring all the old guard back with you D. Lowe Down Rat cause you guys need another thrashing to get our message across!


  9. @ Hants June 28, 2021 8:42 AM
    (Quote):
    Time for Verla to step down and let a man oppose a woeman. (Unquote)
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Nice play on word(s) there, Hants!

    Thought you were looking forward eagerly to the female feline fight to be called the Bajan mother of all political battles.

    At least, with an all-female boxing match, there would not be a repeat of the attacks the MAM received from the all-male cussing brigade in the 2018 political war called general elections.

    Moreover, she would not be asked to run down Broad Street naked to prove she is a wo(e)man or that six is half a dozen when it comes to Twiddle Bee versus Twiddle Dem.


  10. David
    The whole “blogerati” should bow low to the political vision of the Master of all Blogs.

    When you saw this coming from far you had your detractors. Amongst such were the DLP yardies.

    However, the nature of the business makes it virtually, pun imtended, impossible to readily connect that chronic lack of foresight to current realities. And even if you did no difference would be made.

    Good get David.


    • @Pacha

      There are a scenario being discussed. Is the leadership challenge orchestrated to given Verla the appearance of toughness and being a winner?


  11. ((Quote):
    Bring all the old guard back with you D. Lowe Down Rat cause you guys need another thrashing to get our message across! (Unquote)
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Denis the Down Low(e) might be a dirty (doctor) rat alright; but is certainly Not a ‘demon or a monster’.

    Despite his track record of lies he is simply carrying, and justifiably so, the candle of Truth to blow in the wind when he states:

    (Quote):
    There would have to be a reason why a number of us did not get deeply involved in the party after the election. There was a view that we should not be allowed to participate because a lot of people bought into the propaganda of the Government that there was this massive corruption among the last ministers. Now, that has not proven to be so. The Government has not presented
    any evidence to the claims they made, and which was the mantra of their campaign.

    “The electors were duped. I say that unequivocally,” Lowe said.
    (Unquote)

    The “flawed” fraud for a ‘ratty’ doctor of Divinity might not possess a ‘genuine’ certificate in legal education (LEC) but he is clearly on the ball when he says that MAM was merely pissing on her own moral parade while using political hot air to inflate her ego with a red bag full of tricks.

    Now where is that multi-coloured Pied Piper called Mark(ed) Mal(m)oney when he needed most to hold the lamp of Truth?

    Hiding in his rat den called Hyatt Lighthouse cum Harlequin whorehouse?


  12. @ David June 28, 2021 4:45 PM

    He, Denis the menace Low(e), is only regurgitating what is still ‘secreted’ in the Big Red Bag.

    And even revealed in the Auditor General’s reports which don’t worth what Paddy shot at and euphemistically labelled “Jack Shit” as the bullseye.

    Bajan politicians are dismissed by the people for perceived incompetence.

    Charges of corruption require a very high level of evidence (as in the case of Donville Inniss) to achieve successful prosecution.

    And the current treatment of that Malmoney fella is both judge and jury where the evidence is concerned.

    Doc Low(e) is justified in his defence.


  13. @ David June 28, 2021 5:17 PM

    So where is the DPP or even the appointment of a scapegoat Committee aka Commission of Enquiry to put money in the ‘lawyering’ pockets of ‘red’ political friends?

    Why no action on the Auditor General’s recommendation of initiating legal action against those involved in the massive BWA heist?

    Didn’t the lawyer friends of the previous administration become multi-millionaires at tax payers expense; or to use a Bajan saying, ‘get out licking’ under Fumble?


  14. “There are a scenario being discussed. Is the leadership challenge orchestrated to given Verla the appearance of toughness and being a winner?”

    or perhaps the punch and judy show is to make this puppet guy look like a winner
    the play drama will grab headlines and publicity in a vacuum of no MPs
    but internal party politics should be of interest for party members only
    not that i give a shit anyhow


  15. @ David June 28, 2021 5:37 PM

    The same hand(s) which has evidence of (alleged) criminal acts.

    Moreover, the Constitution empowers the DPP to “institute and undertake” criminal proceedings where allegations of criminal activity involving the resources (and servants) of the Crown are concerned.


  16. @ David June 28, 2021 6:15 PM

    The carrier of the Big Red Bag along with the sycophants like Enuff.

    Hundreds of voters were duped into the Ponzi scheme of electoral fraud


  17. A contest of leadership for an opposition party with zero seats is pretty much in the background in the scheme of things, it can have no relevance for anything of merit


  18. On a psychoanalytical level politicians have over inflated egos which are easily led into over ambition for power. Guy must have bought into all the praise and is now thinking he is more special than everyone else.


  19. In the short time Reverend Hewitt has come on the scene he has commanded public attention in a way De Peiza has not been able to. What are the qualities a political leader must have to do well on the national stage? Importantly what are the qualities De Peiza must have to successfully lead the DLP to government against a dominant and battle hardened political foe in the form of Mia Mottley.


  20. Yes he has done exceptionally well on commanding public attention
    Also he has galvanized the forces of all the members that are supporters of Verla a river he must cross in order to become leader of the Party


    • Something dramatic will have to occur for the reverend to beat De Peiza. From all reports she already has the support of 15 of the 30 constituency councils and the overseas UK and US support.


  21. DavidJune 29, 2021 5:32 AM

    Something dramatic will have to occur for the reverend to beat De Peiza. From all reports she already has the support of 15 of the 30 constituency councils and the overseas UK and US suppor
    Xxxxxxxxxx

    In any case Verla can’t take any thing to chance
    Hilary Clinton is an example


    • She will win her internal elections but to what end? Has she secure the support of Kellman in St. Lucy yet?


  22. Come clean
    DEPEIZA PUNCHES BACK AT CHALLENGER
    By Kareem Smith
    Democratic Labour Party (DLP) President, Verla DePeiza is challenging the Reverend Guy Hewitt to be honest with the party and the wider electorate while attempting to unseat her as leader of the country’s second oldest political organisation.
    During a Barbados TODAY interview on Monday, she claimed that despite suggesting otherwise, Hewitt’s interest in contesting the St John seat is no secret among party members.
    And, despite public attacks on her leadership throughout what is usually an internal process, Depeiza expressed confidence that her record of political leadership stands tall when placed alongside a man whom she considers a “political neophyte”.
    Less than two weeks ago, the Anglican priest declared that he had no intention of contesting any of the 30 constituencies under DePeiza’s presidency, “because she does not possess the competencies to successfully lead us to victory”.
    At the time, he explained that while he “wanted her to be a success in politics”, he feared that trying to win the St Lucy seat and leading a party to an election victory may be more than she could manage.
    Declaring that her public comments on the matter were in defense of self and party, DePeiza claimed that Hewitt had already informed her and other members of the party of his desire to hold the “symbolic” St John seat.
    “He is seeking both the nomination in St John and the presidency. Whether he wishes to say so out loud or not, he is seeking both. He, a political neophyte, thinks that he is able to do it, but I, more seasoned than him, can’t do it. Tell me how that makes sense,” DePeiza declared.
    In fact, she added that his expressed desire to run for president of the party and challenge Prime Minister Mia Mottley, whilst having no intention to contest one of the 30 constituencies is utterly inconsistent. The former senator has therefore advised Hewitt that only four constituencies – St Michael West, St Michael South, the City and Christ Church West Central are still up for grabs.
    According to DePeiza, the reverend’s inconsistencies in politics started last month, when Hewitt swore he had no interest in entering the race for the DLP presidency and just two weeks later launched his candidacy at the Hilton Barbados Resort. Well before the announcement of Hewitt’s “New Dawn” campaign, DePeiza recalled receiving a photo from him, informing her that “a new day” was “dawning”.
    “I am seeing a trend and I am certain the party members are also seeing it and this is the thing. I believe politics in Barbados has reached a stage where people want their politicians to deal straight with them. They don’t want empty rhetoric, they don’t want wool pulled over their eyes, they want the straight truth, whether it is unpalatable or not,” DePeiza explained.
    “He has taken it there, so it is in the public domain and will be dealt with in the public domain, but certainly, my record speaks for itself. I will send you my flier just so you can see what has been accomplished. I hope he sends his as to what he has accomplished to date so that we are not only evaluating him on promises and rhetoric only, but on actual works,” she added.
    Among DePeiza’s achievements, she claims, are increasing numbers in membership, readying 26 candidates “and counting” for the next general election, and increased advocacy on issues of national importance. And despite criticism of the party’s handling of the St George by-election, the president has identified signs of promise even in defeat.
    “I am not sure who his statistician is, but in 2018, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate secured 80 per cent of the vote and by 2020, that has been reduced to 66 per cent. Whereas the Democratic Labour Party increased our percentage from 12 to 24.
    That is a trajectory in the right direction if an election is sprung on us in a Barbados Labour Party stronghold and we managed to field a candidate who performed credibly.
    “What you must do when next you speak to Reverend Hewitt was to ask what was his contribution of any kind to the by-election effort,” she contended, adding that his public spat with the party’s youth arm was further evidence of Hewitt’s disconnection from the party.
    Over the weekend, Hewitt was successfully nominated to contest the presidency of the DLP during a meeting of the St John branch at which DePeiza was also nominated. Barbados TODAY understands that while the Reverend secured 13 of the 10 votes required to make it on the ballot, DePeiza amassed 22 at the same meeting. The sitting president is said to have also been nominated by “several” other branches.
    In a statement the following day, Hewitt thanked the members for their support and promised not only to become a candidate, but to restore “the long and important tradition of a two-party political system”.
    “I speak out of a deep belief in the ideals of the DLP and in the potential of our party and its leadership to make a difference. And I speak out of a deep trust in our capacity to unite in a common vision to mend the deep tears in our social fabric and the moral decay taking place around us, while also healing the divisions in our party,” the Reverend declared.
    (kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)


  23. Worrell however maintained that the challenge is good for the party and De Peiza, whom he said is “coming out above and growing in the process”.

    Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    🤫


    • The blogmaster listened with rap attention to Andre Worrell yesterday, he listed Depeiza’s crowning achievement as improving the physical structures at George Street which includes a library and readying the auditorium to be a revenue earner. The other point of interest is that Hewitt’s body of work is serving as High Commissioner to the UK under a DLP regime.


  24. David
    Verla Depeize is and will always be a political lightweight.

    That she is likely to see off her challenger speaks to the wider crisis of socalled democracies globally.

    We see kakistocrats everywhere being the cream of the crop and highly doubt anything different will ensue under Hewitt.


    • Verla pointing to numbers trending upward showing growing support for the DLP must be distilled in context. It is a correction from the unpopular Stuart years. There is a similarity between Depeiza and Mascoll that is uncanny.


  25. “Verla pointing to numbers trending upward showing growing support for the DLP must be distilled in context.”

    @ David

    I agree with you.

    Remember when, prior to the 2018 general elections when the DEMS were bragging about an increasing amount of people were joining the party, yet, such increases were not evident in the vote count.


  26. Never called him a monster nor a demon, did I? I called him a rat, a political ANIMAL of the wrong kind. Human beings are animals too, are they not? So indeed, he is a flawed human being!

    We dismissed Donville and he will not be around to contest the next election. We have dismissed Dennis Lowe and here he wants to insult us by coming again. He KNOWS that he was one of the main reasons the whole party was dismissed.

    He may be correct that the red bag has turned yellow but we know why that is and it is not because there was no evidence inside.

    We had the extremely detailed Lowe Down long before Mia waved the red flag bag.

    And he was long gone before she ever said a word!

    So you may foolishly try to throw my words at me but your weak throw will land them at your feet, as usual.


  27. “In the short time Reverend Hewitt has come on the scene he has commanded public attention in a way De Peiza has not been able to. What are the qualities a political leader must have to do well on the national stage?”

    are you referring to the cult of personality in politics

    is political debate only about one liners zingers soundbites to win

    is it about total destruction of the opponent enemy on the same team

    is it about spreading dirt and dirty tricks to win by hook and crook

    politics is about self gain and fuck the people who are the losers

    nobody want’s boring competent girly swots they want WWE wrestling antics to cheer and boo a smackdown fight like children


  28. Hewitt is a potential rival for our Supreme Leader. We must do everything we can to prevent him from entering Parliament in the first place.

    I recommend that our Supreme Leader take a closer look at the extent to which he smoldered in white luxury in London as Ambassador while Barbados was mired in shit from 2008 to 2018. In any case, I am not aware of Hewitt ever criticizing the unspeakable conditions in Barbados at that time, which very much promoted racism because outsiders got the impression that islanders could not fend for themselves without a massa.

    Fortunately, those dark days are over. Fortunately, those dark days are over. Since our Supreme Leader seized power, Barbados is shining brightly and the civilisational achievements of the island and its people are the talk of the town.


  29. TronJune 29, 2021 2:58 PM

    Hewitt is a potential rival for our Supreme Leader. We must do everything we can to prevent him from entering Parliament in the first place.

    Xxxcccccc
    Why ?


  30. Verla unfazed by Hewitt’s challenge
    President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Verla De Peiza, says she remains unfazed by Reverend Guy Hewitt’s challenge for leadership of the party.
    “Reverend Hewitt is entitled to run. I am not stumped; I am not stymied. It doesn’t cause me to stumble; as you can see, we get on with what it is we have to do on behalf of our party members and the people of Barbados.
    “Come annual conference (which will run from August 18 to 22), that will be resolved and the business of the party will continue,” she said.
    De Peiza was speaking yesterday following the launch of the DLP’s new website at the party’s headquarters in George Street, St Michael.
    Last month, Hewitt, who had initially said he was not interested in the electoral side of politics, announced he was running against De Peiza.
    De Peiza said it was not traditional for the DLP to deal with internal issues in the public domain and apart from setting the record straight when necessary, she did not plan on doing so.
    Internal election
    “At this point in time it is an internal election . . . . It is important that the integrity of our system of our party going forward is protected. We were criticised before for not speaking up and speaking out and we are not going to make that mistake again.
    “The reason why you weren’t hearing from me before (on this matter) was because I didn’t actually have a challenger until Sunday evening. It was only then that one branch nominated him; up until that point I was the only candidate nominated by any branch. So there was no need for me to address anything.”
    Concerning the new website, De Peiza said communication was an important factor in the party’s campaign going forward and this was one of the media it was using to connect with Barbadians.
    “From interacting with people as we canvass, we get to recognise that they really don’t want the bluff and bluster. Yes, they wish to be kept informed of what is going on; yes, they wish for integrity . . . but they really just want the work done.
    “So if it is that you’re going to talk, they are not satisfied. They want to see what is being done on their behalf and that is going to be the focus. But we do recognise that sometimes there are things we do that are not easily seen and we must speak up and say what it is that we are doing and why we are doing it. Communication is important going forward.”
    During the launch, United Kingdom based DLP member Anderson Connell, said it was important to revamp the party’s image.
    He said the website had a fresh design, was user-friendly and provided information about the candidates and news of the goings-on in the party.
    (SB)

    Source: Nation News


  31. DLP names five more candidates

    The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has announced five more candidates to run in the next General Election.
    They are Dawn Murray-Armstrong (St George South), Charles Worrell (St James North), Neil Marshall (St Philip South), Paul Gibson (St James Central) and Andrew Cave in Christ Church West.
    DLP president Verla De Peiza made the disclosures yesterday during the launch of the party’s new website at its George Street, St Michael headquarters.
    She said the party was purposeful in declaring the candidates in batches, adding that 26 of the 30 had been ratified.
    “We will continue to announce them in batches . . . . The candidates we are announcing in this manner are new. This gives you the opportunity to investigate each one of them and this gives them the opportunity to bask in the limelight for a little bit. We think that it is important that we showcase them and not what people expect,” she said.
    Eighteen candidates have been named so far.
    When asked about the interest of the old guard in the next elections, De Peiza said she was “not here to have any leaks”.
    “We do not have different categories of membership in the DLP. Any member of the DLP is open to vie for any position in the party. It is then for the members of the party who comprise the branches and the two councils to determine what level they would accept them in terms of representation.
    “We have a set of by-laws for candidate selection and we have followed them even at short notice with the by-election [in St George North last November] . . . . No one has been exempted from the process, including me . . . and anybody being a member of the party who wants to represent at any level and who wants to be a candidate must, so long as I am president, go through that period of scrutiny.”
    De Peiza, who is the candidate for St Lucy, said that whenever the Prime Minister rings the bell for the next election, her party will be ready, adding that members were already on the ground working and ready to represent the people.
    “I am certain that we are ready; we will be ready, but the thing about election preparedness is something you have to hold close to your chest. If we put out there too early in the public domain, it could become stale. If we release information, it could be manipulated in a way that we don’t want.
    “We have a strategy team in place and an economic team in place . . . .
    You will see movements on the ground, and nationally we are putting ourselves in place. The manifesto is already taking shape. We are putting what is necessary in place and we will be ready.”
    When asked if the DLP was approached by leaders of other political parties about a coalition, De Peiza said her party was open for discussions with anybody but nothing had been put on the table. (SB)

    Source: Nation


  32. Time proves BLP, Estwick were right

    By Ezra Alleyne

    A week is a long time in politics. Dust is flying within the ranks of the Democratic Labour Party at George Street, and the political invective has continued with Verla De Peiza describing Reverend Guy Hewitt as a neophyte.
    Now here is a man in holy orders being described as a neophyte which is defined in at least one well-known dictionary as “a novice in a religious order” or “someone who is new to a skill”.
    Readers will recall him claiming that she does not appear to possess the competencies. In the context of meanings, to be described as a neophyte by an opponent in a leadership contest merits inclusion in the famous book of political insults.
    It reminded me of the famous statement by one British politician. He said: “An empty taxi pulled up outside the House of Commons and the honourable member got out.”
    Call to old guard
    None of this is as interesting as the statement of the redoubtable Dr Denis Lowe, who is also running for high office come August and who is calling on the old guard of the defeated 30 to show their faces (my language).
    But if Lowe’s call made any sense, it could only relate to one man. That one man would be Dr David Estwick. Readers will recall that the economy was ruined during the last administration. At a time when De Peiza was a senator and when, as he reminds us, Hewitt was a diplomat representing this country abroad, Estwick was valiantly holding forth on the economy in forceful language and making a lot of sense.
    On April 24, 2017, in the press, Estwick was once again publicly making a desperate call to his
    colleagues to do something about the economy. Declaring that he had been burnt enough by his own colleagues, he now resigned himself to the position that “they must learn the hard way”.
    He went on: “They are free to choose whatever they want to do. I know we cannot get out of these economic challenges without restructuring and financing the national debt.”
    Best evaluator
    He finished those comments this way: “Let them proceed. Time is the best evaluator of who is right or who is wrong. I proposed domestic debt restructuring and foreign debt restructuring, a combination of the two as well as the entire debt via the sinking fund strategy. They are on their own. I have nothing more to say on this matter.” They learnt the hard way; not a single seat was saved.
    Exactly 13 months later, Estwick’s “time will tell” statement was once again ringing in my ears. I put away the clipping and it is Lowe’s call that brought it back to my mind.
    There could be no question in 2017 that the economy was in trouble, deep trouble. Estwick himself was volubly speaking about things like the Central Bank borrowings by Government. In fact, what caused Estwick to make the statement referred to was the fact that a 30-page report was handed to the Government by the Fiscal Deficit Committee of the Social Partnership, and just about that time the state of the economy was headline news.
    The Mia Amor Mottley administration won the election, restructured the debt, started stabilising the economy . . . and then COVID-19 struck.
    When Estwick was speaking patriotically like the boy on the burning deck and calling for action,
    what were the views of De Peiza and Hewitt?
    More on that later, but in the face of current difficulties, how can one reasonably accuse the present Government of “simply borrowing money to pay bills” as Hewitt alleged in another section of the press on Sunday last? Can he be serious?
    Ralph Jemmott, a retired educator, wrote an article in last week’s Sunday Sun in which he said: “No country can lose a third of its GDP over a prolonged period and not suffer socio-economic consequences.”
    Now that is food for thought, but a week is indeed a long time in politics.
    Ezra Alleyne is an attorney and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    Source: Nation


  33. Borrowing money to repay debt is just as bad or even worst than not repaying at all especially when there is no plan or having a sustainable plan of repaying
    Saying that govt policy of Borrowing is a method of stabilization is political poop.
    Until govt has a plan on hand that can repay the money borrowed the end result is likened to traveling up hill with heavy buckets of mud on feet
    Govt cannot continue on a path of Borrowing when a policy of repayment is necessary to stem the flow of increasing debt


  34. @ David

    Do you know if the “Paul Gibson (St James Central)” is the same ‘Paul Gibson’ who ‘ran’ for Solutions Barbados, subsequently joined the People’s Party for Democracy and Development (PdP) as that party’s spokesman on health?

    If it’s him, then, he just another political opportunist.


  35. Barrow’s invaluable precedent
    By Ezra Alleyne Because I am aware that for some extraordinary reason the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) always runs into an orgy of self-inflicted problems during the first part of the calendar year, my ears were pricked.
    I recall the no-confidence motion filed June 1994, the constitutional changes produced in early July 1974, the famous “adamantine” speech of May 18, also of 1994, not to mention news of going to the International Monetary Fund in January 1991.
    True to form, earlier this year, life in George Street was ambling along, and then, just so, the name of Errol Barrow was thrown into the melting pot and a leadership war was on. Superficial statements were being made about his legacy and what he did for this country.
    But as the action played out, the gruesome events in Haiti last week reminded me of the most patriotic action of Barrow as Prime Minister. Yet nary a pretender to his legacy spoke a word thereon this week, but I will.
    Accepted loss
    In September of 1976, Barrow accepted his loss of that election with grace and dignity. He cemented for Barbadians the concept of the smooth uncontroversial handover of power. As it was his first post-Independence loss of an election, the precedent was crucial. He went into Opposition, and after a recharging of his batteries at an American university as visiting professor, he returned to Parliament in Opposition for nine years.
    Please think on Barrow’s patriotism as you read the quotation below.
    Georges Bidault, a former prime minister of France, once famously said: “The good or bad fortune of a nation depends on three factors: its constitution, the way the constitution is made to work, and the respect it inspires.”
    Barrow in 1976 made sure the Constitution worked in the way it was made to work. He ensured, by example, that it inspired respect. We must not take
    our good fortune for granted.
    Early leaders have a signal responsibility, and Barrow understood and discharged his primary duty to this country in an exemplary manner.
    But to truly appreciate Barrow and his contribution to the DLP, one would have to examine the well-known aspects of his early history. Volunteering to join the Royal Air Force was not his only option. He had been awarded a scholarship to study classics at Codrington but opted for public service. He was 20 then.
    On his return to Barbados, in 1950 he threw in his lot with the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and worked for the noble cause of freeing us from the stranglehold of colonialism.
    Having won the St George seat for the BLP in 1951, he lost it in the 1956 election. He remained outside Parliament between 1956 and 1958, from all accounts faithful to the new DLP and its new leadership and toiling in the vineyards.
    Party loyalty
    He disagreed with the pace of development of Sir Grantley Adams but he certainly learnt the rudiments of party loyalty from his days spent with the BLP.
    Having been identified very early on as having leadership potential, Barrow never found himself attacking the new DLP party leader between 1958 and 1961 after he returned to Parliament. No, he served faithfully under Sir Theodore Brancker.
    In fact, his classic break with the BLP is recorded in the annals of the House of Assembly. He stated his disagreement on April 14, 1955, broke with the BLP and within two weeks formed the DLP.
    This entire country owes Barrow an immense debt of gratitude. The BLP, his first political party, recognises his national contribution. It was the BLP, after all, who returned to power seven years after his death in 1987 and erected a statue in his honour, appropriately in Independence Square, the venue of his seminal “Mirror Image” speech. During that seven-year period I ask, “What were
    the Dems waiting for?”
    His work after 1976 devoted to enhancing DLP headquarters at George Street is better recounted by others, but it emphasises his humility and his capacity for labouring in the vineyard and for exhibiting true party loyalty.
    The truth is that Barrow, as I have already said, is one of my heroes. One of his diehard supporters corralled me in the supermarket last week and expressed her 70-something-year-old view that Elsa was Barrow’s expression of concern with current happenings in his party.
    She swears a spiritual connection with him ever since she fell outside Kampala and he helped her to her feet.
    Yet she is very proud of his loyalty to the party through thick and thin and is planning to raise the roof in August.
    Ezra Alleyne is an attorney and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

    Source: Nation


  36. It is reported that Barrow decided his loss may have been a good thing.

    Perhaps he recognised he needed a reminder that he served at the people’s pleasure.

    All politicians have a tendency to get too big for their boots if they get too comfortable in office.

    One thing we know is – power tends to corrupt. One saying that has been proven over and over. We may get tired of hearing it but we forget it at our peril.


    • In any job there is a tendency for complacency to set in after 5 or 10 years (?) or for gaps in skill sets to be exposed because of the fast moving environment. The job of a politician can be no different. The power of recall is important if we are serious about reform to the governance system.


  37. DLP race heats up
    by ANTOINETTE CONNELL antoinetteconnell@nationnews.com
    THE POLITICAL BATTLE between attorney Verla De Peiza and Reverend Guy Hewitt to lead the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is picking up pace.
    Over the weekend, Hewitt, who was late out of the blocks, managed to secure backing from four of six constituency branches, but in some cases De Peiza’s name also went forward, heightening anticipation about the election at the party’s annual conference next month.
    The weekend meetings were pushed past the usual deadline due to the passage of, and destruction inflicted by, Hurricane Elsa at the start of the month.
    In order to get on the ballot, candidates must be proposed, seconded and have at least ten
    people vote for them, meaning that more than one name can be sent forward for the presidency, as occurred with some of the other branches.
    Hewitt, who initially rejected the notion of running for the post, said this weekend’s turn of events did not bear out the notion that there was unanimous support for one person.
    “I feel that we are now going to have a strong and competitive race for the presidency. I would ask the executive of the DLP to ensure that it is a transparent process and that all the candidates or voters will have confidence in the process and the outcome. That would allow us to rally around whomever the leader is and go forward united to deal with the national race, which is really my focus and must be priority,” he told the DAILY NATION yesterday.
    The would-be newcomer to elective politics is yet to state which constituency he has an interest in representing. So far, 26 of the 30 constituencies have ratified candidates, with 18 of them publicly named. De Peiza has switched from Christ Church West, where she was defeated in 2018, to St Lucy.
    While going through the list of nominations yesterday, De Peiza said: “I will give you the unvarnished truth because Bajans are tired of slick and just want people to be straight with them.”
    She reported that on Sunday, St James Central, Christ Church East, Christ Church South, St Michael West, St Michael East and St Philip North met, with Christ Church South and St Michael West giving unanimous support to Hewitt, while St Philip North and St Michael East also gave him their nod.
    Previously, De Peiza’s
    name alone was sent through for St Lucy and St Michael Central with 24 and 23 votes, respectively, Christ Church West Central (17), Church East Central (15), St Michael North (12) and St James North (13).
    Both names have been submitted from the Christ Church East, St Michael East and St John branches.
    “This is unnecessary because none of this factors into the hundreds that are going to turn up at annual conference to vote. The name is already on the ballot. This is only about getting on the ballot; nothing more at this stage,” De Peiza explained.
    When questioned about whether he had his eyes on a possible constituency, Hewitt responded: “One election at a time. I am focused on the presidency and, as I have said before, the constituency representatives have gone through a democratic
    process and I abide by transparent process.”
    The Anglican cleric said the outcome of the presidency “would allow us to rally around whomever the leader is and go forward united to deal with the national race, which is really my focus and must be priority”.
    The 66-year-old party was wiped out in the 2018 General Election without gaining a seat in Parliament.
    DLP acting general secretary Damien Griffith said the battle was shaping up to produce an energised annual conference.
    He added the challenge was nothing new and recalled the David Thompson/ Branford Taitt showdown, and later the Thompson/Clyde Mascoll contest.
    “I’m seeing participation levels that I have not seen in a long time,” he said.

    Source: Nation

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